Warning this post is not suitable for perfect homemakers with perfect kids. The images you are about to see may be disturbing to most moms.
Welcome to our unfinished basement. Our basement that has been once, twice... now three times organized and has taken on different purposes (see post here). Our basement that used to be a home to some of our friends (see post here ) as they were saving money for an apartment. With them lived two cats... cats that later I discovered I am BIG time allergic to. Leaving me unable to venture down into my basement the whole nine months of my pregnancy for possibility of a horrible Asthma attack. After our friends moved out I decided to turn the basement into a playroom. Brilliant idea... except all this happened days after finding out I was expecting and then realizing I could not go down there. So as I said, I had not been down there in a long while but, obviously someone was going down into the basement... because this is NOT how I left it.
I put my mom detective skills to use and I found those responsible for this messy situation.
Their sentence... two days of clean up and a lecture first from mom and then from dad. They said they were really sorry for what they had done. Even the part when they ripped apart a Styrofoam cooler into tiny, tiny little pieces. You can see evidence of that in photo one and two.
I love plastic bis! I have toys sorted by kind or by what is fun to pair together in play. I came up with this system many years ago and it works really well. It helps a child play with a toy the way intended as well as keep them from getting overwhelmed by so many toys all at once. Also trading out the bins is like Christmas all over again. I used Word and printed out labels using different fonts. I then used packing tape to attach the labels I made with printer paper. The tape completely covers the paper keeping it protected.
I now store the bins behind a gate to remind the kids of our house rule. One toy out at a time. To get a new bin of toys everything must be cleaned up first.
A tidy play space helps encourage imagination! Not to mention keeps a child out of trouble with the authorities!
SOOOOO adorable! I'm a Mom too (I'll trade you the little ones as a group for one smart-mouthed 18 y/o daughter- just email for details...LOL) so I feel your pain.
The girls dont' even LOOK guilty Visiting from Tatertots and Jello Linky Party Tonight, ~Suzanne in IL
Absolutely HILARIOUS!!! I love this post so much and think you are one great mom for not letting the opportunity pass without getting some humor out of it. :-) My kids were playing "hotel" the other day and my son wanted to use the foam cooler and I made him look me dead in the eye promise not to pick at it so I totally get that one! Thank you so much for your sweet comment and for linking this up to Inspiration Friday this week! Vanessa
Such a cute post! I love it- I think we have all been there with those big old messes and the 'I didn't do it' innocent looks! Your playroom looks wonderful now and is a perfect spot for your kiddos! Thanks so much for your sweet comment at my blog and for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)
those cute little stinkers...i swear we have an extra child in our house named 'i didn't do it'...but at least now the space is all tidy and organized...and i bet they enjoy playing there much more too...thanks for linking up to fridays unfolded...nice to 'meet' you!
You need to keep this post and show it to them someday. What a funny bunch of pictures as them as the prisoners! I am surprised they could keep a straight face in a single photo! My husband has a big family and we have all raised our kids at the same time and at once I saw it and said oh, the "playroom." Ours were always this bad and worse! Oh, the cooler! I would not be happy about that either. HAha Cute , cute! Sherry
Oh, I almost forgot!! thanks you for linking this up with Home Sweet Home! We all love our homes and our messy kids, it does make it sweet! The memories are priceless.:) Sherry
Carrie, what a cute post! Gosh I remember that happening in my daughter's bedroom when she was little. Could not even see the FLOOR! But, she's all grown up, now 25, and she is still a "plop and drop" girl when she's home. However, her apt. is clean! WHAT'S THAT ABOUT!! Thanks for following Curly Willow DIY, I am a happy follower of yours as well.
You are too cute! I love this post, and your family is adorable. You did a great job organizing - I love plastic bins too...I used them in my garage (since we don't have basements in FL) and they changed my life! Thank you for your sweet comments on my blog. I am a new follower of yours! :)
This is one of the cutest posts I have read in long time. You made me smile big time! We have all been there - with the messy basements and playrooms. So much stuff to store and corral. The clutter and "little junks" never end even as they get older. I am on the other end as my girls don't live at home anymore, but all their stuff still does. :)
OMG! This post had me laughing. My basement is a black hole. Seriously worse, except my husband and I are to blame. Love the mug shots of the girls. What a good sense of humor.
Love the post! Found you through OMF's link party =) We have a basement playroom too, and it's just a challenge b/c I don't need to go down there every day...so I don't and what I don't see, I don't remind to clean up...you get the picture. Kudo's to you for showing the mess. Loved the photos =) Doesn't it feel great to have that conquered? Blessings, Beth
I think my son needs to join this line up he just drew with pencils and crayons on the living room walls. I had to go back and look at picture 1 & 2 to see the styrofoam evidence, my dog can join the line up there. I always say I became a mother to clean up others messes until the day they can clean it up themselves!
Hello, just stopped by - when my children were younger we lived in a split level with the basement being the playroom. Your photos look frightfully familiar! After reading your 'about' I had to smile - I grew up in Southern California - moved out East - married - my husband later became a Pastor - we now have a church plant in his hometown - we had three children we home schooled - all grown now! You're experiencing the fun years in home schooling - I miss them! Lovely to meet you and I am your newest follower! God Bless, Kathy
ohhh my! I loved this post! Love the prisoner numbers! too clever! great job about the gate, and one bin picked up before another comes out. :) gail ps thanks for linking up, AND linking back with my button. Catching you this week!
This is so cute. I have 3 sisters and I remember making some messes. We used to get yelled at and we would scoot everything under the bed, til my mom discovered us. My sisters are my best friends, your girls are so lucky.
When I first saw the picture, first thing that came to my mind was my 9yr old daughters room. She is the only girl and the youngest. Grandma spoils her, even though I ask for her to slow down on all the cute little things (too many of them) I sometimes tell my daughter that she is going to be on that show (THE HOARDERS)it's really not funny. I'm sending her away so I can get rid of some of the things she has out played. My parents use to clean out our rooms when school would start. We would come home to very empty clean rooms, and never knew what was missing. Told my mother that if she keeps, buying for my daughter, that she is going to have to help my daughter clean up her room. Won't be fun, for the both of them. lol
I just had to come over and check out this post after gail caught you this week. OMG, she is so right, this is definitely a must read! Love your sense of humor and your kids are adorable little criminals..lol. You have some really great organizing ideas in here. I may have to use that for myself in my basement, only for tools. I'm just like a kid, I get one tool out, don't put it away, and start on something else with another tool. They are never where I can find them...Thinking I need those plastic bins with pictures AND the gate for me, it just might help my mess. Wish I had someone else to pin the blame on..
ROFL!!! Haha...those pics really cracked me up but let me say that the befores looked totally normal for a household with kids. My home has seen some bad days as well;) You have a great organization system though and I'm sure as the girls grow they will learn to appreciate a little order (I know I did...my room used to look the same way!)
Your the cutest detective / judge / mom / maid I will ever meet.
ReplyDeleteLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI still can't stop laughing!!! The suspects were even wearing stripes!!
Your organization is awesome!!! I WANT a basement!!!!! Love u!! xxxx
SOOOOO adorable! I'm a Mom too (I'll trade you the little ones as a group for one smart-mouthed 18 y/o daughter- just email for details...LOL) so I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteThe girls dont' even LOOK guilty
Visiting from Tatertots and Jello Linky Party Tonight,
~Suzanne in IL
Absolutely HILARIOUS!!! I love this post so much and think you are one great mom for not letting the opportunity pass without getting some humor out of it. :-) My kids were playing "hotel" the other day and my son wanted to use the foam cooler and I made him look me dead in the eye promise not to pick at it so I totally get that one! Thank you so much for your sweet comment and for linking this up to Inspiration Friday this week!
ReplyDeleteVanessa
Such a cute post! I love it- I think we have all been there with those big old messes and the 'I didn't do it' innocent looks! Your playroom looks wonderful now and is a perfect spot for your kiddos! Thanks so much for your sweet comment at my blog and for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)
ReplyDeletethose cute little stinkers...i swear we have an extra child in our house named 'i didn't do it'...but at least now the space is all tidy and organized...and i bet they enjoy playing there much more too...thanks for linking up to fridays unfolded...nice to 'meet' you!
ReplyDeletealison
So cute! :) Love the plastic bins..I use those, too. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier.
ReplyDeleteGinger
You need to keep this post and show it to them someday. What a funny bunch of pictures as them as the prisoners! I am surprised they could keep a straight face in a single photo! My husband has a big family and we have all raised our kids at the same time and at once I saw it and said oh, the "playroom." Ours were always this bad and worse! Oh, the cooler! I would not be happy about that either. HAha Cute , cute!
ReplyDeleteSherry
Oh, I almost forgot!! thanks you for linking this up with Home Sweet Home! We all love our homes and our messy kids, it does make it sweet! The memories are priceless.:)
ReplyDeleteSherry
Carrie, what a cute post! Gosh I remember that happening in my daughter's bedroom when she was little. Could not even see the FLOOR! But, she's all grown up, now 25, and she is still a "plop and drop" girl when she's home. However, her apt. is clean! WHAT'S THAT ABOUT!! Thanks for following Curly Willow DIY, I am a happy follower of yours as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are too cute! I love this post, and your family is adorable. You did a great job organizing - I love plastic bins too...I used them in my garage (since we don't have basements in FL) and they changed my life! Thank you for your sweet comments on my blog. I am a new follower of yours! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Carrie-
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the cutest posts I have read in long time. You made me smile big time! We have all been there - with the messy basements and playrooms. So much stuff to store and corral. The clutter and "little junks" never end even as they get older. I am on the other end as my girls don't live at home anymore, but all their stuff still does. :)
This is GREAT! Would you please link this up at my toy-clean out party? Go here:
ReplyDeletehttp://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/2011/08/clean-it-up-and-clear-it-out-summer.html
Fantastic!
Becky B.
www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun
OMG! This post had me laughing. My basement is a black hole. Seriously worse, except my husband and I are to blame. Love the mug shots of the girls. What a good sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteWow. Can definitely relate! Looks like a lot of work - but good for you for having fun with it!
ReplyDeleteLove the post! Found you through OMF's link party =) We have a basement playroom too, and it's just a challenge b/c I don't need to go down there every day...so I don't and what I don't see, I don't remind to clean up...you get the picture. Kudo's to you for showing the mess. Loved the photos =) Doesn't it feel great to have that conquered? Blessings, Beth
ReplyDeleteHilarious!
ReplyDeleteI think my son needs to join this line up he just drew with pencils and crayons on the living room walls. I had to go back and look at picture 1 & 2 to see the styrofoam evidence, my dog can join the line up there. I always say I became a mother to clean up others messes until the day they can clean it up themselves!
ReplyDeleteGreat post...the pics are soooo cute!!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
Hello, just stopped by - when my children were younger we lived in a split level with the basement being the playroom. Your photos look frightfully familiar! After reading your 'about' I had to smile - I grew up in Southern California - moved out East - married - my husband later became a Pastor - we now have a church plant in his hometown - we had three children we home schooled - all grown now! You're experiencing the fun years in home schooling - I miss them!
ReplyDeleteLovely to meet you and I am your newest follower!
God Bless,
Kathy
ohhh my! I loved this post! Love the prisoner numbers! too clever!
ReplyDeletegreat job about the gate, and one bin picked up before another comes out. :)
gail
ps thanks for linking up, AND linking back with my button. Catching you this week!
Your detective skills are astounding! Please come over to my house and figure out who's been messing things up here!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute. I have 3 sisters and I remember making some messes. We used to get yelled at and we would scoot everything under the bed, til my mom discovered us. My sisters are my best friends, your girls are so lucky.
ReplyDeleteHilarious post! You just made my day.
ReplyDeleteI smile at you from my also unfinished basement! I shudder to go down there to see what MY 4 kids have been up do daily! Great post!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the picture, first thing that came to my mind was my 9yr old daughters room. She is the only girl and the youngest. Grandma spoils her, even though I ask for her to slow down on all the cute little things (too many of them) I sometimes tell my daughter that she is going to be on that show (THE HOARDERS)it's really not funny. I'm sending her away so I can get rid of some of the things she has out played. My parents use to clean out our rooms when school would start. We would come home to very empty clean rooms, and never knew what was missing. Told my mother that if she keeps, buying for my daughter, that she is going to have to help my daughter clean up her room. Won't be fun, for the both of them. lol
ReplyDeleteLOL! Love your "take" on the great toy caper! Congrats on your great toy clean-up, too! Thanks for sharing! CindyS.
ReplyDeleteI just had to come over and check out this post after gail caught you this week. OMG, she is so right, this is definitely a must read! Love your sense of humor and your kids are adorable little criminals..lol. You have some really great organizing ideas in here. I may have to use that for myself in my basement, only for tools. I'm just like a kid, I get one tool out, don't put it away, and start on something else with another tool. They are never where I can find them...Thinking I need those plastic bins with pictures AND the gate for me, it just might help my mess. Wish I had someone else to pin the blame on..
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for linking up at Savvy HomeMade Monday. I hope you will party again tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteCute post :)
ReplyDeleteROFL!!! Haha...those pics really cracked me up but let me say that the befores looked totally normal for a household with kids. My home has seen some bad days as well;) You have a great organization system though and I'm sure as the girls grow they will learn to appreciate a little order (I know I did...my room used to look the same way!)
ReplyDeleteOh, what a wonderful chuckle for the day!! Love your blog!
ReplyDelete~~Blessings~~
Christy B.